Catching up with Aurora Christian's Jordan Roberts at Wheaton College

October 10, 2012|By Mike Helfgot, Special to the Tribune

Jordan Roberts threw for more yards and touchdowns and completed more passes than any high school quarterback in state history while at Aurora Christian, and in his sophomore year at Wheaton College set a school record for completion percentage.

Garrett Meador replaced an injured Roberts last season and was the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin's 2011 Offensive Player of the Year.

Both are healthy this season, and at any given moment, either a preseason All-American in his final year of eligibility or Division III's third-highest-rated passer is No. 20 Wheaton's backup quarterback.

"It has been an awkward situation there at quarterback," Wheaton coach Mike Swider said. "You have a school record-holder coming back from an injury and a preseason All-American who was voted captain. Both have maturity going for them and the respect of the team.

"Some would call it a coach's dream. Others would call it a player and parent nightmare."

Swider decided not to decide, and with the exception of the two games Meador missed due to injury, the quarterbacks have been rotating by quarter as they did for a time in 2010.

There is still no plan to name a starter for the duration of the season, though Roberts may be distancing himself.

The redshirt junior broke a 29-year-old school record Saturday by completing 17 consecutive passes while going 24-for-27 for 258 yards and five touchdowns as Wheaton improved to 4-1 with a 44-10 victory against Carthage.

His season totals of 92-for-120, 1,065 yards, 16 TDs and one interception factor out to a passer rating of 193.55. Only two Division III quarterbacks rate higher.

"Two years ago I looked at it as a competition rather than teammates doing it together for the betterment of the team," Roberts said. "This year I came into training camp looking at it as a competition. I know Garrett had a great season last year.

"After training camp, I came to the realization that we're doing this together, we are a two-headed horse going at this. He is a very good quarterback and that is how we're going to approach it. Instead of looking at is a competition, let's do this together and win games."

Jordan Roberts file

College: Wheaton.

Class: Redshirt junior.

High school: Aurora Christian.

Position: Quarterback.

Size: 6-1, 205

2012 numbers: 92-for-120, 1,065 yards, 16 TDs, 1 INT.

FYI: He holds the IHSA career records for most completions (616), passing yards (9,752) and touchdown passes (127).